Five candidates visited the 11-county diocese last week. They have diverse convictions on some issues that led to the split. But all pledged to avoid imposing their own agenda on the 32 parishes, which range theologically from evangelical to moderately liberal. All have experience with mediation or reconciliation among feuding Episcopalians. All have led the revival of tiny parishes similar to many here.

And all intend to spend more time in parishes than in an office.

"The next bishop will have to be a missionary bishop, not an administrator," said the Rev. R. Stanley Runnels, 60, rector of St. Paul's Church in Kansas City, Mo., in a view expressed by all candidates.

The most amazing thing about this article is the statement that here remains much needed “conversation” about sexuality in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. (1) That’s all TEC’s been talking about for 20 + years and (2) this is the group that stayed with TEC. If they don’t realize SSB/M is a done deal, they probably shouldn’t be walking the streets without armed guards assisting them.